Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-17
ESCAPING IN NIGHT CLOTHES.
Fire In q Chicago Hotel Causes the
ssuesss s0 Tumble Out En- Dtsha billie.


CHICAGO. Nov. l7.-over one hundred guests CO.
cupying the six floors uf the saratoga EuropeAn
Bosel in Dearborn street, were aroused from thsir
beis shortly before 2 O'Clock this morning BY the
rigging OF the electric nre alarm In TIE roonlS
smoke was pouring through the halls and crrening
In at the trsnsoms. Cries OF '.nTe" were heard On
every landing, and an ndescr bable panic ensued
Few stopped 20 secure their clothing or valuables
Women and men ned through the halls. down the
stairway, ana out into the street clad IN their
night clothes The: gathering OF the IRE engines
neghoorhood. and the excitement became intense.
oae man, Harry Hammond the clerk OF the
escsne me ther tnmatss tnmh,ei over .,arb otne,
down the stairs IN their hurry 10 escape.
The fire had started In the kitchen OF the Sara
tCga restaurant, on the nrSt n0Of. and raui1ly
spread through the building ascending 60 the Jop
NJ the rear by means of the ventilator. The night
clerk OF the hotel, Thos. McFadden, saw the smoke
and ran into the hall ana gave the alarm. he
nng the electric alarm bells. The clerk OF the
Windsor Hotel heard the cries OF fire and sent I'm
Company a second alarm was sent IN. me names
were then high above the roo; OF the seven story
structure. aud threatening the Jo'0n0l building
to the south and the windsor Hotel across the
alley 20 the north. Half an hours hand work SUD-
dued the IRE sufficiently To allow two truck CON-
panles TO hoist their ladders and make search ot
found.
THE FINE BkEaks oUr AFREsH.
About @:45. after several or the engines had
been dismissed, the IRE broke out afresh On the top
oor, and I'm short while the entire seventh story
~ Was ~aolaze, with strong breeze tanning Il in ths
The rear from the lower floor clean 60 the rOJf.
was also aolaze. the shaft formerly used a. q
lreignt elevator acting as nue The nre how
ever was confined 10 these places and Tut for tho
strong wind could have been easily fought Tne
building was flooded with water, and from tnis
and smoke most OF the damage will accrue. AT 8
O'Clock the nre was entirely under control Tho
Windsor Hotel Just across the alley, was crowded
With number OF excited men and women Ia ali
n ret d
the burning Saratoga many OF them hnd put on
but one shoe, while Others were barefOoted. An
oyercoat or cloak over the nightclothes was tho
scanty covering that enveloped most OF the guests
SCARE IN A SEIGHBoRING HorEI.
The l0dgers In the Windsor were awakened BY
the noise OF engines, and at FIRST there was quite
scare, but the excitement subsidized when it was
learned that there was no immediate danger and
the people set about assisting the scantily clothed
dodgers OF the burning hotel The Windsor waa
overcrowded last night and there was therefore
no room for the burned-out ones. but they were
made as comfortable circumstances would per-
nit Many OF them LEFT for other hotels with what
effects they had saved Those OF the guests who
had not taken refuge In the Windsor HCtel sought
Railways IN the buildings surrounding IN which
10 don their clothing. In the entrance q the Flrst
National Bank building stood four women scantily
apparelled and shivering with the cold. Many
told stories OF their narrow escapes.
NEARLY sUFFoCATEn.
John W. Benson, a travelling man nom Philadel-
phia, who roomed on the thlrd noOr, said he
awakened slowly, and, when he realized the SIT
uation, the smoke had nearly suf1ocated him-
He crawled on his hands and knees TO the stair
way and got TO the bottom IN a fainting cOndi-
tion. NJ. E. Anderson. OF Philadelphia had a
narrow escape also when he attempted TO return
for his clothing. The origin OF the IRE Is un-
known. IL clearly started In the rear OF the
restaurant The building Is owned by he Cham
bers estate, and II damaged 10 the extent OF per-
haps sl2 600 or $4,000. The restaurant Is gutted
and the furniture almost entirely destroyed, en-
failing loss OF at least 5000 The damage 10 the
hotel furniture Is about 5000.